PETER Logan (Letters, 1/12) said that they do not scan barcode at motorsports, but I don’t think that he has been to a Supercars event. If he had he would have seen that the ticket has a barcode and the volunteers at the gate have hand-held scanners provided by the ticketing company to scan said barcodes. Maybe we should be blaming those companies for the numbers. WHEN Andrew Constance said “they said it couldn't be done”, referring to light rail in Hunter Street; he got it wrong. What many of us said was that it shouldn't be done, referring to closure of the railway and putting light rail in Hunter Street. However, now that it is done we will just have to wait and see if it should have been done. That should be about two or three years. He was also very optimistic about the benefits of the light rail for the city. I hope he's right. What will happen if he is wrong? HAVING been a witness in the Royal Commission regarding paedophilia in the Church, I am sickened by this business repeating itself where clergy get in the stand with no recall of incidents involving kids, where the kids are branded as liars, and the culprits get off scott free or get a Clayton’s sentence. I have experienced it for 40 years, and the same methods are utilised. WHY did the Newcastle Herald devote so much coverage to a small counter-protest of students wagging school in the name of “activism” (‘Too young to vote but will be heard’, Herald 1/12)? Not a single story about the largest mass demonstration in Australian history - millions of students at school in solidarity with the coal industry. SCHOOL teachers manipulating young students to protest on political and social issues fits very well with the Little Red Book of Chairman Mao and the education programs of Joseph Stalin. All we need now are re-education camps for those who disagree, then if they gain control the media and freedom of speech and we will repeat history. FULL marks go to the kids who marched for action on climate change. It’s great to see kids thinking about their climate future. It shows the Liberals are at least one generation behind the rest of Australia. The kids openly defied the Prime Minister. Liberal MP Matt Canavan wants our kids relegated to the dole queues because 'true learning' can only take place in classrooms. Thanks to parents and teachers who affirmed kids' climate concerns, and shame on the Liberals for putting our kids down in this way. JOHN Fear, everyone would love to see "The Station" humming (Short Takes 1/12). It’s unlikely though, as "revitalisation" only rearranges the same slices of the Hunter economic pie. Newcastle Station, as part of advanced nation railway operations, would have naturally developed as a vibrant hub into its surroundings and a great foundation for economic resilience.

Short Takes December 6 2018: readers have their say on the day’s news

PETER Logan (Letters, 1/12) said that they do not scan barcode at motorsports, but I don’t think that he has been to a Supercars event. If he had he would have seen that the ticket has a barcode and the volunteers at the gate have hand-held scanners provided by the ticketing company to scan said barcodes. Maybe we should be blaming those companies for the numbers.

Mark Creek, Adamstown

WHEN Andrew Constance said “they said it couldn't be done”, referring to light rail in Hunter Street; he got it wrong. What many of us said was that it shouldn't be done, referring to closure of the railway and putting light rail in Hunter Street. However, now that it is done we will just have to wait and see if it should have been done. That should be about two or three years. He was also very optimistic about the benefits of the light rail for the city. I hope he's right. What will happen if he is wrong?

Peter Sansom, Kahibah

HAVING been a witness in the Royal Commission regarding paedophilia in the Church, I am sickened by this business repeating itself where clergy get in the stand with no recall of incidents involving kids, where the kids are branded as liars, and the culprits get off scott free or get a Clayton’s sentence. I have experienced it for 40 years, and the same methods are utilised.

Ian Smith, Elermore Vale

WHY did the Newcastle Herald devote so much coverage to a small counter-protest of students wagging school in the name of “activism” (‘Too young to vote but will be heard’, Herald 1/12)? Not a single story about the largest mass demonstration in Australian history - millions of students at school in solidarity with the coal industry.

Scott Hillard, New Lambton

SCHOOL teachers manipulating young students to protest on political and social issues fits very well with the Little Red Book of Chairman Mao and the education programs of Joseph Stalin. All we need now are re-education camps for those who disagree, then if they gain control the media and freedom of speech and we will repeat history.

John Hollingsworth, Hamilton

FULL marks go to the kids who marched for action on climate change. It’s great to see kids thinking about their climate future. It shows the Liberals are at least one generation behind the rest of Australia. The kids openly defied the Prime Minister. Liberal MP Matt Canavan wants our kids relegated to the dole queues because 'true learning' can only take place in classrooms. Thanks to parents and teachers who affirmed kids' climate concerns, and shame on the Liberals for putting our kids down in this way.

John Butler, Windella Downs

JOHN Fear, everyone would love to see "The Station" humming (Short Takes 1/12). It’s unlikely though, as "revitalisation" only rearranges the same slices of the Hunter economic pie. Newcastle Station, as part of advanced nation railway operations, would have naturally developed as a vibrant hub into its surroundings and a great foundation for economic resilience.